IOWA ASSOCIATION OF RAILROAD PASSENGERS
3349 Southgate CT SW #108
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404-5424
www.simpson.edu/~iarp or
Pat Hendricks 515-282-9289 or
Eliot Keller 319-363-2061 Eliot@kzia.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
04/26/05
State rail passenger group to give Amtrak passengers birthday cake
Burlington, Mount Pleasant and Osceola, Iowa
When the westbound Amtrak train rolls into Burlington (scheduled for 5:15 p.m.),
Mount Pleasant (5:49 p.m.) and Osceola (7:59 p.m.) this Sunday (May 1st),
volunteers from the Iowa Association of Railroad Passengers (IARP) will be
passing out birthday cake to boarding and detraining passengers.
It's all part of IARP's way of celebrating Amtrak's 34th birthday.
Project Coordinator Mary Buczek of Davenport (who is also IARP's
Treasurer) says, "We want to show our support for Amtrak and our
appreciation of the folks who are riding the trains." Buczek will be
coordinating the festivities at the Amtrak Depot in Burlington.
Cathy Johnson of Iowa City will be coordinating the celebration at
the Amtrak Depot in Mount Pleasant.
Des Moines Travel Agent Gary Billmeyer (who is IARP's Vice
President) will be coordinating the fun at the Amtrak Depot in Osceola,
south of Des Moines.
Buczek says, "We in Iowa want Amtrak service to continue. It's so
important right now that everyone tell their federal officials that Amtrak
provides an important service for Iowans and visitors to our state."
The public is invited to join in the celebrations.
According to the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak),
total ridership in the six Iowa communities it serves (Burlington, Fort
Madison, Mount Pleasant, Ottumwa, Osceola and Creston) was nearly 55,000.
In fiscal year 2004, Amtrak spent $752,412.00 in Iowa in wages, goods and
services.
Membership information is available by writing to the Iowa
Association of Railroad Passengers, 3349 Southgate Court, SW, Suite #108,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52404-5424 or by calling (319) 362-6824 or going to the
association's Website at www.simpson.edu/~iarp.